Opinion: Can Israel and Hezbollah be pulled back from the brink of war?

SEOUL, July 29 (AJU PRESS) - The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in intense diplomacy to persuade the protagonists to pull back from the brink. But U.S. efforts have not paid off so far, given its lack of sufficient leverage with both sides. A grand bargain involving Israel, Hezbollah and their outside supporters is now urgently needed to av

July 29, 2024

Korea wins 10th consecutive gold in women's archery team event

SEOUL, July 29 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea’s dominance in women’s archery reached a new milestone on Sunday as they secured their 10th consecutive Olympic gold medal in the team event. The victory in Paris extended an unparalleled winning streak that began at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The trio of Jeon Hun-young, Nam Su-hyeon, and Lim Si-hyeon faced a formidable challenge from China, ultimately prevailing in a heart-stopping shoot-off. Despite blowing a commanding 4-0 lead, the South

July 29, 2024

Fencer Oh Sang-uk wins Korea's first gold at Paris Olympics

SEOUL, July 28 (AJU PRESS) - Fencer Oh Sang-uk clinched gold in the men's individual sabre, Korea's first gold medal at this year's Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Saturday. Oh defeated Farès Ferjani of Tunisia in the final bout to become the first Korean man to win gold in the event. With Saturday's victory, Oh became the first Korean fencer to achieve the feat of winning at four different major competitions -- the Olympics, the Asian Games, the World

July 28, 2024

PHOTOS: Paris kicks off Olympics with outdoor spectacle despite glitches

SEOUL, July 27 (AJU PRESS) - This year's Summer Olympics kicked off in Paris, France on Friday with a historic, rain-drenched opening ceremony. Held outside a stadium for the first time in Olympic history, the four-hour spectacle showcased the fashion capital's creativity and innovation. But the ceremony was not without flaws, including the Olympic flag being hoisted upside down and the Korean delegation being mistakenly introduced as North Korea. More than 10,000 athletes from 206

July 27, 2024

Opinion: Paris opening ceremony was tribute to witnessing superhuman feats of the extraordinary

SEOUL, July 27 (AJU PRESS) - There has never been an opening ceremony quite like it. For the first time in Olympic Games history, the ceremony took place outside a stadium arena. Despite a rainy and miserable Paris evening, enormous crowds – most who paid no fee to attend – lined the banks of the Seine to witness this outdoor promenade of history, art and sport as 100 boats carrying 10,500 athletes sailed down the river. Designed to showcase the depth of French culture a

July 27, 2024

Korea pins hopes on key disciplines as Paris Olympics open with riverfront ceremony amid rail chaos

SEOUL, July 27 (AJU PRESS) - Korea aims to win at least five gold medals in archery, fencing, judo and swimming and finish in the top 15 overall, as the Summer Olympics open in Paris, France for the first time in a century, with a spectacular, one-of-a-kind open-air opening ceremony along the Seine on Friday. Breaking away from tradition under the slogan "Games Wide Open" aiming to be accessible to everyone outside of a stadium, Friday's rain-soaked opening ceremony in

July 27, 2024

PHOTOS: Retro street in central Seoul faces uncertain future

SEOUL, July 26 (AJU PRESS) - A quaint retro street nestled between Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and the Jongno-gu Office Annex in central Seoul faces an uncertain future. Called Donuimun Museum Village, the area opened in 2017 as part of an urban regeneration project undertaken by former liberal Mayor Park Won-soon. The street's nostalgic ambiance stands in stark contrast to its modern surroundings in the city center. The village was originally intended to preserve and showcase Seoul's

July 26, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul Summer Beach transforms Gwanghwamun into urban water park

SEOUL, July 26 (AJU PRESS) - The 2024 Seoul Summer Beach, a temporary water park, opens at Gwanghwamun Square Friday, providing a cooling retreat for residents and tourists during the peak of summer. Running through August 11, this year's event has doubled in size following last year's success, which drew 680,000 visitors. The expanded attractions include a 7.5-meter water slide and a 70-meter-long pool with a depth of 1 meter. Organizers have divided the space into two main areas:

July 26, 2024

PHOTOS: Incheon Airport gears up for summer travel boom

SEOUL, July 26 (AJU PRESS) - Incheon International Airport is bracing for a surge in summer travel, implementing a special peak season traffic plan from July 25 to August 11. Airport officials expect about 3.85 million passengers during this period, with a daily average of 213,782 travelers. This represents a 19.4 percent increase compared to the same timeframe last year. To manage the influx, the airport is promoting streamlined immigration services such as SmartPass, a facial recognition

July 26, 2024

From lovebugs to nutrias: Korea grapples with growing threat of alien species

SEOUL, July 26 (AJU PRESS) – On a sweltering summer afternoon, residents of Seoul’s Eupyeong district sought refuge in the shade of a tree. Unbeknownst to them, their respite was shared by an unwanted nuisance: tiny, buzzing critters called lovebugs. The 12-legged insects fly around in pairs while mating. Known to prefer white over black, they latch onto brightly colored clothing. Attracted to exhaust fumes, they often dive into vehicles, causing car corrosion. &ldquo

July 26, 2024